The Fun Four: New, don't-miss places for foodies

Ready for its closeup: a grilled Pacific oyster topped with gremolata and a dash of hot sauce at The Jolly Oyster on the grounds of San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura.

From a store that carries a barbecue sauce made by former Dread Zeppelin bandmates to a trailer that offers shuck-your-own oysters, Ventura County's array of unique food places just keeps growing. Read on for a mini tour.

Sure, this store opened in late April by Talia Wunder sells more than food. There are glass orb necklaces by Camarillo artist Dolores Barrett, cashmere-soft baby blankets made out of bamboo fibers for a Moorpark company and watercolors of agricultural scenes by Fillmore artist Luanne Hebner Perez.

But foodies will really revel in the shelves stocked with all manner of locally grown, bottled and otherwise produced food stuffs all in one place.

The array includes Earl's Gone Wild California BBQ Sauce, made by a couple of Ventura guys who once performed in the cover band Dread Zeppelin. Also available are bottles of Ojai Olive Oil, boxes of made-in-Ventura Kelsey's Anytime Fudge and jars of Oxnard strawberry jam from Lourdes Gourmet. And since Wunder is always on the lookout for interesting local items to feature, there's always something new. (Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.)

The pub owned by Culver City mayor Micheal "Mehaul" O'Leary opened in June and was closed a month later when it was discovered that the previous business, Jekyll n' Hyde's, had failed to complete the permitting process, said O'Leary.

But now that it's officially open again, Corrigan's is serving beers made locally by Enegren Brewing Co. of Moorpark in addition to the traditional Guinness. Also on the menu: appetizers, sandwiches and entrees like beer-battered fish and chips for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served from 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays

3). The Jolly Oyster at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura (entrance at 911 San Pedro St.; call 798-4944 or click on http://www.thejollyoyster.com).

Located on the grounds of San Buenaventura State Beach, The Jolly Oyster is a food truck in the sense that it has wheels and sells food. After that, it's more of a DIY affair, specializing in fresh manila clams and Pacific and Kumamoto oysters that patrons shuck or grill themselves, on the premises or at home.

The mollusks are farmed in Baja California, Mexico by an aquaculture operation whose cofounder, Mark Reynolds, is often on hand to demonstrate the proper use of an oyster knife.

Knives are available for purchase if you forget to bring your own. Otherwise, it's up to you to supply cooking utensils, side dishes and beverages, including beer and wine, to make a proper meal out of your trip to the beachside picnic tables and barbecue grills. Acoustic music joins the mix for sunset-hour gatherings on selected days; Reynolds also is researching the how-tos of a good old-fashioned New England-style clam bake for future events.

Finding the place can be a bit difficult. While pedestrians and bicyclists may enter the state beach at no cost and from a variety of pathways, motorists are limited to the gate at San Pedro Street and Pierpont Boulevard. Beach parking is $10, but The Jolly Oyster has three free, 20-minute spaces to accommodate patrons picking up shellfish to take home. Business hours for now are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

After months of hiding behind a plywood facade, the cafe and bakery has at last opened in the street-corner space once occupied by Pamela's Tea Room. Locals are raving about the Key lime pies, praline cheesecakes and powdered sugar-dusted beignets on the Southern-accented menu of goodies. (Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.)